Rosa hybrida shrub named ‘AUSweather’

ABSTRACT

A variety of rose plant of the shrub class, named ‘AUSweather’. The ‘AUSweather’ is a variety of a rose suitable for cut-flower production with double, pink blooms with many petals in a quartered formation, along with a long vase life and fragrance.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybridashrub of the market class ‘English Rose’.

Variety denomination: The new plant has the varietal denomination‘AUSweather’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to European CPVO 2014/2104,filed Aug. 28, 2014.

ORIGIN OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of shrub rose plantnamed ‘AUSweather’, which was originated from the cross-pollination ofthe two ‘unnamed’ and unpatented seedlings of Rosa hybrida.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of this breeding was to produce a rose varietysuitable for cut-flower production with double, pink blooms with manypetals arranged in a quartered formation, along with a long vase lifeand fragrance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherspresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventoris the following combination of characteristics: pink roses on strongstems with many-petalled blooms that are arranged in a quarteredformation.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed atBowling Green Lane in Albrighton, Britain shows that the foregoing andother distinguishing characteristics come true to form and areestablished and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.‘AUSweather’ may be asexually propagated by budding. The buddingsuccessfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa ‘Inermis’ for theobserved plants.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The seed and pollen parents of ‘AUSweather’ are two unnamed seedlings.The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, by the followingcombination of characteristics: the seed parent has a flower which ispink in the center, but which fades almost to white at the edges,whereas ‘AUSweather’ blooms are more uniformly pink. In addition, theseed variety is not quartered. The new rose may be distinguished fromits pollen parent, by the following combination of characteristics: theparent is red and has far fewer petals than ‘AUSweather’.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The closest commercially available cultivar to the new variety is the‘AUSimmon’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,267). The new rose may bedistinguished from the ‘AUSimmon’ variety by the following combinationof characteristics: the ‘AUSimmon’ has a bloom size which is much larger(12 cm) than the bloom size of the ‘AUSweather’ (9 cm). The blooms of‘AUSimmon’ also have more petals (120 per bloom) to the blooms of‘AUSweather’ (92 per bloom). In addition, ‘AUSimmon’ has blooms thathave outer petals that are tinged green whereas ‘AUSweather’ isuniformly pink.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. Throughout this specification, color references and/or valuesare based upon the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society(2001) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

Observations of budded ‘AUSweather’ specimens were made at the nurseryat David Austin Roses Limited in Albrighton, Wolverhampton, UnitedKingdom. The following description is of 5 year-old potted rose plantsof the new variety grown indoors in a greenhouse in Albrighton, Britainin the month of June. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental,cultural and climatic conditions, as well as differences in conditionsof light and soil.

FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Blooming habit: Continuous. The number of blooms per plant during    the growing season is profuse, but there are too many to count.-   Bud:    -   -   Size.—About 2.3 cm long and 2 cm in diameter when the petals            start to unfurl.        -   Form.—The bud form is broad based.        -   Color.—When sepals first divide, the bud color is RHS 38A            (red group). When half blown, the upper sides of the petals            are RHS 73C (red-purple group), and the lower sides of the            petals are RHS N74D (red-purple group).        -   Calyx.—Shape: star-shaped when the bloom is open and folding            back against the stem. Length: 4 cm. Diameter: 2.2 cm.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Regularly arranged. Color: Upper            Surface: green RHS 148C (yellow-green group). Lower Surface:            green RHS 144A (yellow-green group). Length: 4 cm. Width:            1.2 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Surface texture: Upper Surface:            Downy. Lower Surface: Glandular. Number: There are 3            normally appendaged sepals, and 2 unappendaged sepals with            hairy edges.        -   Receptacles.—Color: RHS 144A (yellow-green group). Shape:            funnel. Size: small, about 1 cm high×0.8 cm wide. Surface:            Smooth.        -   Peduncle.—Length: medium, averaging about 8 cm. Surface:            Smooth. Color: RHS 144A (yellow-green group). Strength:            Strong.-   Blooms:    -   -   Size.—Large, average open diameter is about 9 cm.        -   Borne.—Singly. (Note: the inflorescence when the shrub is            growing naturally may hold between 1-4 blooms, and then has            a rounded shape. When grown commercially for cut-flower            production the stems are disbudded to ensure the blooms are            grown singly.)        -   Stems.—Strength: Strong, average length is about 95 cm.            Diameter: 6 mm.        -   Form.—When first open, bloom is cupped. Permanence of bloom:            retains its form to the end.-   Petalage: Number of petals under normal conditions: 92.    -   -   Color.—The upper sides of the petals are RHS 65B (red-purple            group). The reverse sides of the petals are RHS 67C            (red-purple group). The base of the outer petals has a small            yellow spot RHS 2D (yellow group) on the inner side and RHS            2C (yellow group) on the outer side.        -   Variegations.—None.        -   Discoloration.—The general tonality at the end of the first            day is RHS 68A (red-purple group), and at the end of the            third day is RHS 68A (red-purple group).        -   Fragrance.—Moderate. Character of fragrance: rose.-   Petals:    -   -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Size.—Width: 4.2 cm. Length: 5.5 cm.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Margin.—Entire but wavy, with very few incisions and very            little undulation or reflexing.        -   Apex shape.—Rounded.        -   Base shape.—Acute.        -   Form.—Incurved.        -   Arrangement.—Quartered.        -   Petaloids.—Number: many, around 12. Color: RHS 67A            (red-purple group). Length: 2.3 cm. Width: 1 cm. Shape:            Obovate (folded). Margin: Uniform.        -   Persistence.—Petals hang on and dry.        -   Lastingness.—On the plant: not tested. As a cut flower:            About 6 days.-   Reproductive parts:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: around 70. Length: 14 mm.        -   Anthers.—Length: 3.5 mm. Color: RHS 11A (yellow group).            Arrangement: Mixed with petaloids.        -   Filaments.—Color: RHS 11A (yellow group). Length: 11 mm.        -   Pollen.—Color: RHS 20A (yellow-orange group).        -   Pistils.—Number: 40. Length: 18 mm.        -   Styles.—Color: RHS 58C (red-purple group) and N155C (white            group). Length: 17.5 mm.        -   Stigmas.—Color: RHS 16B (yellow-orange group). Length: 0.5            mm.        -   Hips.—None Observed.

PLANT CHARACTERISTICS

-   Plant form: Shrub.-   Plant growth: Medium.-   Age to maturity: One year.-   Mature plant: Height: 1 m 20 cm. Width: 90 cm.-   Rootstock: Rosa ‘Inermis’ for the observed plants.-   Foliage:    -   -   Number.—Leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is: 3 and 5            (including terminal leaflet).        -   Size.—Large, about 12 cm long×9 cm wide.        -   Quantity.—Normal. Number of leaves per flowering stem is: 6.        -   Color.—New foliage: Upper side: RHS 146A (yellow-green            group). Lower side: RHS 182A (greyed-red group) with RHS            146B (yellow-green group). Old foliage: Upper side: RHS 147A            (yellow-green group). Lower side: RHS 147B (yellow-green            group).-   Leaflets:    -   -   Size.—About 5.8 cm long×4 cm wide.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Base shape.—Rounded.        -   Apex shape.—Acuminate.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Edge.—Serrated.        -   Serrations.—Single.        -   Petiole.—Color: RHS 146A (yellow-green group). Length:            3.4 cm. Width: 1.8 mm. Surface Texture: Glandular.        -   Petiole rachis.—Color: RHS 146A (yellow-green group).            Underside: with prickles.        -   Stipules.—Length: 2 cm, glandular. Color: RHS 144A            (yellow-green group).        -   Auricle.—Shape: Lanceolate. Length: 6 mm. Width: 0.8 mm.            Color: RHS 144A (yellow-green group).        -   Vein color.—Same as leaf color.        -   Venation pattern.—Reticulate.-   Wood:    -   -   New wood.—Color: RHS 184C (greyed-purple group). Bark:            Smooth.        -   Old wood.—Color: RHS 146B (yellow-green group). Bark:            Smooth.-   Branching habit:    -   -   Number.—None.-   Stems:    -   -   Mature stem.—Length: 95 cm. Diameter: 6 mm.        -   Internode distance.—6 cm. The above measurements are all            variable, depending on growing conditions in a season.        -   Stem pubescence present.—No.-   Prickles:    -   -   Quantity.—On main canes from base: Ordinary. Number per stem            length: 6 per 10 cm.        -   Form.—Deep concave.        -   Length.—7 mm.        -   Color when young.—RHS 180B (greyed-red group).        -   Color when mature.—RHS 183D (greyed-purple group).-   Small prickles:    -   -   Quantity.—Main stalk: None. Laterals: None.-   Disease resistance:    -   -   Mildew.—Resistant.        -   Blackspot.—Not tested.        -   Rust.—Not tested.-   Pest resistance: Not tested.-   Winter hardiness: Not tested.-   Growing conditions: Normal greenhouse conditions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of theshrub class suitable for cut flower production, substantially as hereinshown and described.